Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Bits and Pieces-Halloween Edition

Halloween is my favorite time of the year to host parties. Having a birthday very close to Halloween, I grew up having parties this time of year and old habits are hard to break. I have gotten so lazy about committing to company, but I was so glad that I decided to have a few friends over Saturday night for a casual evening. I didn't do a tablescape, I simply covered the table with black fabric, put my current centerpiece back on it and lit a couple candles. The dishes were stacked, the food was self-serve and simple, it was a no-stress evening for everyone. You don't always have to prepare a sit down feast for your guests. I made a pot of chili, the grilled cheese/tomato soup casserole I recently posted and two kinds of cookies (recipes soon). One friend brought a pie and another brought apple slices and dip. I had s'mores to make over the fire pit, but we were all too full to eat them! I had a great time and it reminded me just how much I really do love to entertain.

While I'm showing you the little touches of Halloween that I added to my fall decorations, I want to show you my dining room table. We bought the table at a furniture store tent sale and have used it the past two years with a few scratches on it. It seemed to be getting more and more scratches and chips and my husband just refinished it. I think he did a beautiful job. We put a glossy, waterproof coating on it so I can just wipe it off.

This year I didn't really take down my fall things,

I just added a few Halloween items here and there.

We are actually having a chilly week. I even turned on the fireplace this morning after taking Zoe out in the rain. We were cold. I haven't turned on the heat, or needed to...but the air finally went off yesterday, although I am certain I will have it back on again. This is the kind of day that I'd like to bake (and then eat it all).

I've been asked to keep updating the progress in our family healthy eating/living plan. My daughter recently ran her first 5k since high school (10 years). She is wearing a size 6 and feels great. She would like to lose another 10 pounds or so, but her attitude is that it will happen when it happens. Keeping her calories around 1200 a day and exercising most days is still the norm for her. She said that she started crying about half way through the race because it dawned on her how far she had come in 10 months. I'm very proud of her. She also just started another new project at Disney, which meant that her trip home that was cancelled because of work in August and moved to November, has also been cancelled. I will go 8 months without seeing her, the longest we have ever gone. Her job is so exciting, but very hard on her mother!!

I have dropped my exercising from 6 days a week to 4 or 5, I am still eating healthy 90% of the time and we both still live by the "is it worth it" rule for eating fattening foods. Some things are worth it! Some simply aren't. I am right where I want to be and maintaining it so far, but I know that I can never get lazy about it or I will gain it all back very quickly. We just live it now, we don't really think about it much like we did in the beginning.

Speaking of foods that are "worth it"...coming soon, Trick or Treat Cookies.

Hi Suz,Sounds like a fun get together...so nice getting together with friends, and it always makes me want to do it again soon. Sounds like you feel that way too.

I have found over the years that simple is so much better, but at times I do like to fancy it up a bitfor the holidays, just makes it seemmore special than the everyday routine. I love to entertain too,but simple entertaining like what you are talking about......easy and fun.No stress........sounds good to me.That must be something with getting older that we don't like to commit to things like we used to.......think it comes from being so committed to life while you areraising children, and you have to be someplace all the time. I remember some ladies from my church asking me to go to the flea market with them, (not too long after Dee had left home) and I was basking in the not having to get up at the crack of dawn and get her to school routine, they wanted to leave at6:30 to be there by 7, which meant getting up at 5:30.....and I looked at them and said ladies, I appreciate the invitation and no offense, but there is no where I want to go bad enough to get up at5:30 in the morning, I have been doing that for approx. 25 years, and it doesn't sound like fun to me. Hope that doesn't offend yall, but I am just being dead honest....

I have a dear friend who's birthday is on Halloween, and another friend who's son was born on Halloween. SoOctober is a month of celebrations.

Like your pumpkin background, very cute...........andHappy Birthday whenever it is thismonth......Hope you have a delightful day whatever you do!

Hi Sue,Great table, great centerpiece, love your casual entertaining!Which btw, I always think turns out to be the most fun.Wow..sounds like you have a handle on the diet/exercise thing!I didn't even know that you needed to lost any weight, you always look so good.Hugs friend,Cindy

What a fun, relaxing get together...this is the way to do it. And your table looks like you fussed over it (even though you didn't, they didn't know that!).

I like your Halloween decorations, somehow they fit perfectly in your home without screaming FRIGHT NIGHT! lol! I haven't done Halloween for years and years, I did it for the kids.

I know you are so proud of your daughter. And you are doing very well yourself. I have to use the "is it worth it" line, too. I am eating healthy, fresh foods for meals but I started binging on sweets again. Then I started making some bad choices with the take out food we get about once a week. So I'm back on the wagon since yesterday when I stocked up on my frozen yogurt and healthy snacks and I just have to stick with salads when we order food.

I like the way you served at your get together - pick up a plate and serve yourself. That is the way I handle almost all my get togethers now days.Sounds like you and your daughter are living a healthier life style. I should be saying the same. :/

I love the way you entertained your friends! Simple but beautiful and delicious. I think that's the mindset I need as I just can hardly get out of my own way right now. You've inspired me, my friend!

Sounds like you're all doing very well with your healthy eating plan. I haven't! I guess I'm doing better than I give myself credit for but I still indulge. Perhaps I should be asking myself is it worth it? :)